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custom decals

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  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 96 posts
custom decals
Posted by GN24 on Friday, April 1, 2022 10:03 AM

recently I purchased a new light mountain locomotive for some custom paintwork. However I was stopped in the process due to the need of custom decals and I do not currently have the money to comission decals from a company neither do I have the software needed to design them. what would you guys recommend I do?

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, April 1, 2022 10:33 AM

Do you mean you need decals for a specific railroad, but there isn't a decal set available for that railroad (or for a specific lettering scheme used by that railroad), or that you're going to decorate the engine for a free-lance railroad?

Stix
  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Friday, April 1, 2022 10:50 AM

Well, you could just put numbers on the cab and behind the tender for now, until you find an alternate solution.

Simon

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, April 1, 2022 11:43 AM

It would help if we knew what you are looking for, light steam decals from Micro Scale cover most road names.

Are you looking for a specific logo?

Mel


 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, April 1, 2022 12:33 PM

GN24
I purchased a new light mountain locomotive for some custom paintwork.

GN24
Due to the need of custom decals.

What kind of custom decals are needed for a light mountain locomotive? Nearly all of these were black with white lettering. Alphabet decals and some cut-offs from available sets should do almost anything.

More details for what you are requiring are needed.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 96 posts
Posted by GN24 on Friday, April 1, 2022 1:15 PM

wjstix

Do you mean you need decals for a specific railroad, but there isn't a decal set available for that railroad (or for a specific lettering scheme used by that railroad), or that you're going to decorate the engine for a free-lance railroad?

 

 

I am looking for decals for clinchfield no.311

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Friday, April 1, 2022 1:43 PM

As most steam locos were painted black, custom decals are pretty easy using white background decal paper.  Using your favorite graphics program, design your decals starting with a black rectangle of an appropriate size for the decal space.  Next, type in your lettering in "white" or whatever light color (gray, silver, yellow, etc.) you require for your decals.  If white, your computer printer does not print anything but allows the white decal background to show through.  The result is white lettering on a black background.  

Hornblower

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, April 1, 2022 1:57 PM

I'm not sure if it's needed for you to do the artwork, but Circus City Decals are a good choice for a small amount of decals.

A friend sent me a couple sets that he had made, and I used them to letter a car for another friend, and one for myself, too.

For a set for one loco, it wouldn't be all that expensive, and you might be able to add a couple of other items, too, if needs be.

Wayne

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, April 1, 2022 2:32 PM

GN24
I am looking for decals for clinchfield no.311

That looks like it could be done with MicroScale alphabet decals (Railroad Roman or Condensed Railroad Roman) in either Dulux Gold or Yellow.

Since there are only a couple of repeated letters in CLINCHFIELD, one sheet should do the trick. If there are small pieces of data you need to complete the project, I could probably supply those for you.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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